Culinary travel is experiencing a renaissance, with international bakery classes among the fastest-growing preferences.
Airbnb’s 2026 travel trends report reveals that short, culture-rich city breaks, immersive nature escapes and interactive food experiences will dominate bookings next year.
The report also highlights five wishlisted hotspots that have sustained momentum over the past three years, especially among travelers seeking hands-on food experiences as a gateway to local culture.
Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul received a Gold Award for the Most Desirable European City in 2025, after finishing second place the year before, overtaking Dubrovnik, Croatia and Madrid, Spain.
Visit Istanbul names baklava as more than an iconic Turkish dessert, but a symbol of celebration and generosity.
Les Arts Turcs welcomes travelers to a 3-hour traditional baklava-making workshop to learn how to roll thin phyllo (yufka), layer walnuts or pistachios, pour warm syrup, and cut it in the iconic diamond shape.
Many workshops also teach revani, a soft semolina cake, and simple, comforting helva. Other classes introduce travelers to Halka Tatlısı, or “ring dessert,” and simit, the sesame-crusted street staple that pairs naturally with a glass of strong Turkish tea (çay).
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon was crowned as the Best City Break Destination in Europe at the 2025 World Travel Awards thanks to its rare mix of accessibility, culture and food in a compact, easy-to-navigate setting.
Visit Portugal names the pastel de nata, the Portuguese custard tart, as a must.
Travelers eager to perfect the blistered custard, crisp layered pastry, and high-heat bake should join baking workshops led by pastry chef and bakery owner João Batalha.
He has been baking the pastel de nata for travelers from all over the world since 2018. He is a 5th-generation family baker sharing his secrets for making puff pastry from scratch.
Other workshops may introduce travelers to Portugal’s convent-dessert tradition, egg yolk-rich sweets such as Queijadas or Pastéis de Feijão, once crafted behind monastery walls or Portuguese sweet breads like pão doce.
Paris, France
Euromonitor International recently revealed that Paris tops the world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025, welcoming over 18 million international visitors this year. Madrid, Tokyo, Rome and Milan follow the City of Light.
The city is home to France’s most influential cooking schools, such as Le Cordon Bleu and École Ferrandi; legendary bakeries like Poilâne and Du Pain et des Idées; and Michelin-starred restaurants including Guy Savoy, Arpège and Le Meurice.
These institutions have helped shape modern gastronomy and cement Paris’s reputation as a global culinary capital.
Even the iconic Cordon Bleu offers pastry classes for beginners, from learning the secrets of macarons to those of éclairs, crépes, galettes, and tarts. Travelers interested in learning how to bake a baguette, a croissant, a pain au chocolat, or a French brioche will also find classes here.
Taipei, Taiwan
The Michelin Guide launched in Taiwan in 2018, with 27 starred restaurants in Taipei. By 2025, the guide now lists a record 419 establishments (53 starred and 144 Bib Gourmand), more than doubling the total number of venues since its debut.
Taipei’s baking classes are booming as travelers seek out edible souvenirs rooted in Taiwanese culture.
Baking classes offered by CookInn Taiwan include a 90-minute class on making the buttery shortbread shell and its tangy, slow-cooked filling of the famous pineapple cakes.
Other workshops often explore mung bean pastries, nougat crackers and longuan cupcakes. For savory adventures, novice bakers can try their hands at making pan-fried pork buns or egg yolk pastries.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo ranked as the trendiest travel destination of this year, according to the Mastercard Economics Institute. But it is a global hub for travelers drawn to the city’s signature style of soft, enriched breads and meticulously crafted pastries.
Travelers can learn to make shokupan, melonpan, shiopan, and anpan, soft, pillowy breads that sit at the center of everyday Japanese baking, during a hands-on JaPan! bread baking class.
Visitors also participate in mochi-making workshops at Simply Oishii Wagashi School, echoing the precision and playfulness that define Tokyo’s broader food culture.
